Tool for repairing mortar joints



Oct. 21, 1958 e. A. SCHWEITZER 3 5 TOOL FOR REPAIRING MORTAR JOINTS Filed June 17, 1954 /a W Z K7 /8 G. A. ScHwE/TzE INVENTOR I I BY /I I 1 ATTORNEYS United States Patent TOOL FOR REPAIRING MORTAR JOINTS George A. Schweitzer, Detroit, Mich. Application June 17, 1954, Serial No. 437,486

1 Claim. ci. 72-133 This invention relates to a tool for repairing mortar joints and more particularly to a tool for a plasterer to insert more mortar in a mortar joint which has deteriorated from damage or age in the structure using mortar joints.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a tool for repairing mortar joints of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter for supporting loose plastic mortar by a person repairing already formed mortar joints, the tool having troughs at the ends with outwardly projecting ears at each end of the trough for engagement with a joint to be repaired regardless of the size of the joint regularly had in the trade.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tool of this kind which is relatively readily easy to form by a person working in this trade or by a manufacturer of tools of this kind. The tool is formable from sheet metal, or like material, available in or adjacent to building requiring this type of repair work.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a tool of this kind which may be manufactured at a very economical cost for its improved use by a person skilled in this trade.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the tool for repairing mortar joints in use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tool of Figure 1, shown in association with a fragment of a mortar joint.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing the tool as applied to a wall.

Figure 4 is an edge elevational view of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing certain' constructional details.

In buildings having bricks secured together by mortar joints I have provided a tool for pointing up the mortar in the joints needing repair.

The tool of my invention is designated generally by the numeral of the drawings, the tool 10 being formed of a flat sheet or plate 11 having relatively long parallel side portions 13, from which extend obtusely angled inwardly extending short side portions 19. The short portions 19 are also parallel to each other, but the obtuse angles 20 forming these short portions are oppositely disposed relative to the ends of the plate 11.

The troughs 12 are formed on opposite ends of the plate and extend at a slight obtuse angle out from the adjoining long side portions 13 and at an obtuse angle from the opposite short side portions 19. The troughs each have an upstanding back 14, the backs being opp0 sitely disposed relative'to the plate 11 and substantially perpendicular thereto, and a reverted end wall 15 parallel to the plate 11. Each reverted end 15 has an up- "ice standing guide 18 and 18a, respectively, substantially perpendicular to plate 11, the guide 18 being parallel to the adjacent long side portion 13. It is to be noted (see Fig. 5) that the guide 18 adjacent each long side portion 13 is set back a short distance from this side, while the guide 18a at the other end of each reverted end wall 15 adjacent the short side portion 19 is aligned with the short side portion.

The two short side portions 19 are at a slight obtuse angle to long side portions 13 and extend for about onefourth the length of the plate. Along long side portions 13 at points adjacent the short side portions 19, guides 18b are turned from the edge laterally of the plate 11 on the same side of the plate as the nearest upstanding back 14. One end of each back 14 terminates short of the adjacent long side portion 13 and in line with the adjoining guide 18 on the reverted end wall 15, and has a substantially rectangular finger 16 in a plane perpendicular to plate 11 and extending outwardly at an angle away from the adjacent long side portion 13 of about 45 The corners of fingers 16 are curved toward the plane of plate 11, as best seen in Fig. 2.

The other end of each back 14 terminates even with the adjoining guide 18a and short side portion 19. This end of each back carries a finger 17 similar in configuration to fingers 16, except that it extends outwardly in alignment with its adjacent short side portion 19, and the corners are curved toward the plane of the plate 11, as seen in Fig. 2.

In the use and operation of the device, the mortar tool is retained in the position of Fig. l, with that side of the plate being kept upwardly, the trough 12 to the left being adapted to receive mortar, and the long side portion 13, as viewed at the top in Fig. 1, is placed in a horizontal grooved brick joint, so that the two guides 18 and 18b on that side bear against the outer brick surface. The plate 11 is manually tilted toward the brick wall to aid the flow of mortar, and a narrow spatula is manually employed to push the mortar into the groove. In employing the device, the tool is grasped with the hand engaging the reverted end portion 15 which extends downwardly, or as viewed in Fig. 1, that portion to the right of the figure. As the tool is moved manually, finger 16 smooths off the surface of the newly applied mortar. in some instances it is more convenient to have the tool move to the left. At such times the tool is inverted so that the trough 12, seen hidden to the right of Fig. 1, is turned up to receive the mortar at the right, and the trough to the left, being turned downwardly is utilized as a handle. At the tool is thus used, it is moved to the left to smooth off the joint. For vertical joints the tool is turned up, so that plate 11 is vertical and a finger 17 and its adjoining guide 18a are against the brick. For those who are right-handed, the trough 12 which faces to the right is used for pointing up the vertical joints, while for the left-handed, the other trough is used.

While the specific details of one embodiment of this invention have been herein shown and described, the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A tool for pointing mortar joints in brick or block walls comprising a flat plate having two opposed sides, each side including a long side portion and a short side portion obtusely angled relative thereto, a first trough extending across one end of one face of said plate adapted to contain mortar, said trough including an end wall perpendicular to the plate and a top wall parallel to the plate, one end of the top wall terminating short of a long side portion and having a first outwardly turned guide generally perpendicular to the top wall and the plate and substantially parallel to the adjacent long side portion and extending away from one face of the plate, a second outwardly turned guide positioned intermediate the length of said adjacent long side portion and spaced from the first trough, said second guide extending away from the other face of the plate and spaced slightly inwardly of said long side portion, "a fiat .finger integral with one end of the end wall of the trough adjacent the first guide, said finger extending outwardly of the end wall of the trough and substantially parallel with the adjacent long side and substantially coplanar with said first guide, a second trough substantially parallel to said first trough extending across the other end of said plate on the other face thereof, said second trough having aguide and finger disposed similarly to said second guide and said finger, an outwardly turned guide similar to said first guide on said second long side portion, the last mentioned guide extending oppositely to said first guide, the ends of each trough being open and terminating respectively at a short side portion and along side portion, a further guide on the end of each trough adjacent the short side portion, said further guides extending away from said troughs and disposed substantially parallel to said short side portion, and further fingers on the perpendicular end walls adjacent the further guides and short side portions, said further fingers being aligned with said short side portions, all of said fingers having rounded-over corners at the remote ends thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 482,369 Kruck Sept. 13, 1892 1,035,037 Olson Aug. 6, 1912 1,743,474 Norfolk Jan. 14, 1930 2,614,412 Dance Oct. 21, 1952 2,625,816 Spallone Jan. 20, 1953 2,626,521 Ruedi Jan. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,073 France Dec. 20', 1950 

